Decatur: +1.2%)- Last 5 years: 77.0% (Annualized difference: +2.8%)- Last 10 years: 88.4% (Annualized difference: +1.3%)So the housing stock in Huntsville appreciates slightly faster, but I’d say the data shows that Decatur can work for both cash flow and appreciation-oriented investors.

It just feels like I’ve been making a lot of short term sacrifices for long term gains and I have to be really diligent with money management. or I could also just try to borrow money for the renovation, and pay off the line of credit over time, but I feel like that really would limit me and if the stock market(my collateral) went down I could also see some trouble. 

I have to agree that a 1031 exchange may not be the best strategy. 

@Randall King If you find the property isn't performing well, a 1031 exchange would defer the tax and concentrate that equity into something that has a greater cash flow potential, like what @Corby Goade said.

Hey - it's better than the stock market.  

And the condo debacle in FL will be churning for quite a while as these rogue HOAs try to get realistic with deferred maintenance, new requirements, and freedom for people to use as they need to afford them.One thing to consider would be to 1031 all of them in a consolidation exchange. 

Bought a place a few months ago on market while doing a 1031 exchange..

Seeing 9-10% return On Paper, I couldn’t help but connect to the long term RoI of stocks.

Which brings me back to the "F.I.R.E" thing maybe you should look into that and changing your lifestyle and doing a blend of a lesser/easier job, less expenses, some real estate investments, and some stock investments.

I find  Most people who invest in stocks or index funds are not investing for the dividends.